Intl. court asks Pakistan to stay execution of Indian 'spy'

The United Nations' top court has ordered Pakistan to stay the execution of an Indian man convicted of involvement in espionage and sabotage activities.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague ruled in a binding decision on Thursday that Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav must not be executed until Pakistan has time to hear the case brought by New Delhi.

"Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Mr Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings," said the court's president Ronny Abraham.

He said India has the right to seek consular access for Jadhav, ordering Pakistan to inform the tribunal that it has implemented the decision.

Outlining the reasons for its decision, Abraham said Pakistan had given no assurances Jadhav would not be executed before the court delivered its final decision.

Indian lawyer Deepak Mittal ealier told the tribunal that Jadhav was "an innocent Indian national" who had been held incommunicado for more than a year on "concocted charges".

Pakistani representatives, however, told the court Jadhav had confessed to having been sent by India "to wage terror on the innocent civilians and infrastructure of Pakistan".

Judicial experts say the hearings and final decision could take more many months if not years.

The unanimous decision by ICJ is considered a victory for New Delhi over its bitter rival.

SS